Balance and Blocking Key as Tritons Defeat Lynn in Four Sets

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd volleyball team used a balanced attack and strong net defense to overcome a slow start on Thursday, taking the second through fourth sets to claim a 3-1 win over Lynn University in Sunshine State Conference play.

HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 3, Lynn 1 (19-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-19)
Records: Eckerd 7-4 (3-4 SSC); Lynn 4-5 (2-4 SSC)
All-Time Series: Eckerd leads, 23-19

HOW IT HAPPENED
* The Tritons jumped out to a 9-5 lead in the first set, but it was quickly erased by four straight points for Lynn.  The set then turned into a back-and-forth affair with five ties before the Fighting Knights used another four-point run to take a 17-14 lead.  EC pulled back within two points on three occasions, the last coming at 21-19, but Lynn closed with its third four-point run of the set for a 25-19 win.
* Eckerd again grabbed an early four-point lead in set two.  The Fighting Knights cut that lead down to a point, but this time the Tritons had an answer.  After a kill by Stephanie Karlovics got a side-out, freshman Payton Meader played a big part in a six-point run with two kills and a block in a series of five rallies.  Lynn inched back within four points but a pair of Karlovics kills started a four-point run, and Eckerd stayed on top picking up a 25-15 win to even the match.
* Neither team could build a sizable lead in the third set.  EC pulled ahead by three (12-9), but the advantage didn't last long as Lynn moved in front at 16-15 following three straight points.  The Tritons matched the run on the next three rallies and, shortly thereafter, grew their lead to three points (20-17) via a block by Meader and Madison Whiting.  The Knights trimmed the deficit to one point but were not able to tie the set as EC took a 2-1 match lead after a kill by Paula Hoffmann and a Lynn attack error finished a 25-22 set victory.
* The Tritons dominated the fourth set from the start, racing out to a 7-2 lead and later taking five consecutive points to extend the advantage to 14-7.  EC's lead grew to as many as 12 (21-9), but Lynn cut the gap in half with six straight points.  The Knights would later get within five points before back-to-back kills by Kali Boatwright put Eckerd at match point.  Lynn stayed alive for two rallies but EC finished the four-set win on an attack error by Jaja Perkins.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
* The Tritons boasted a balanced attack with three players reaching double-digits in kills.  Hoffman led the way with 14 while Karlovics had a season-high 10.  Meader also had 10 kills, a career-high for the freshman.
* Eckerd had 12 or more kills in each set.  EC hit .314 in the third set and .171 for the match while holding Lynn to a .129 attack percentage.
* The team's net defense was outstanding, resulting in a season-high 16 blocks.  Meader had seven to lead the way while Karlovics, Whiting and Fernanda Reis each had four.
* Reis also missed her career-high in assists by one, finishing the night with 46.
* Sibson (21) led a group of four players in double-figures in digs.  Hoffmann had 18 for a double-double while Boatwright and Arielle Erillo both had 10.

UP NEXT
The Tritons travel to Saint Augustine to face Flagler (Fla.) on Saturday at 7:00 PM.